The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-23
Additional Testimony Regarding~the Unsa-
worry Reputation Of President Harrison at
His Own Home from His Old Neighbors.
The Senate Whitewashing Committee
Persistently SURPRISES Evidence.
Attorney Span Requested by the House
Committee to Retire from the Investi-
CATION for Personal Reasons.
MORE DAMAGING EVIDENCE.


Into the Insane Hospital Case.
The House committees investigation Of the
Harrison Insane Hospital management was
Sgain taken up yesterday morning. The first
witness placed upon the stand was DR. r. E.
Williamson, fine-looking old man. a little deaf,
but clear and strong in his replies to the ques
tions given him. He testified that he was
seventy-four years old, had lived in Boone
county twenty.six twenty seven years, and
retired from the practice of medicine five years
ago. He has been acquainted with DIR. Harrison
for over twenty years. He said Harrson's rep
utation for truth, and veracity, and morality
was bad.
Mr.. Wesner-You may state to what political party
Jon belong.
The Witness (emphatcay)-I am Republican all
over.
Mr.. Wesner--Isnt DR.. Harrison's character dis
cussed generally in connection with potics9
The Witness--lt is now; previous to his going into
the Democratic party il discussed outside of poll
tics. His reputation from the time he came there
until the present time has beer that of great liar.
The witness remembered Harrison's trial be-
fore the County Commissioners of Boone county
He could not tell who he had heard speak of
Harrison's character. It was the common senti-
ment o. the people that he is not man of
truth. This impression had been upon the wit
ness ever since he had been acquainted with
Harrison, so that his evidence could have no
weight with witness unless corroborated by
other persons.
Mr. Grifiths (who conducted the examination Of
witnesses)-Have You heard people speak of his repu
tation lcentous mani
Witness-It used to be a good deal talked about: SO
much was said about it that believed it. In the
medical profession that ne had practced criminality
was common belief and common talk.
nr Cov TT IL
practicine physician at Lebanon for over eleven
years, was placed upon the stand He had
known Harrison for eleven years, and was
acquainted with his general reputation. It is
bad. Henry N. Span. attorney, then ques-
toned the witness for the respondent:
Question-Were you not influenced during the in
vesgation before the County Commissioners by that
abusea
Answer-No at that time he was my friend and
business partner.
Mr.. Griffths-What have you heard of his reputa.
ton being licentious man, and ractcing or at
tempting to practice abortionsl
Witness-I have heard it talked
The witness being, examined in relation to the
! G. case, said h had attended the patient.
and d. red living child, which he believed
was yet living He may have heard Of the
H and M cases. but the matter was but
indistinctly remembered.
James Coombs, of Lebanon. formerly county
commissioner. was the next witness. He said
he had known DR.. Harrison since the latter had
lived there; his reputation for morality is bad:
his reputation for truth and veracity is medium
Q.-Were You of the members of the Board of
County Commissioners at the time certain charges
were filed by Mr.. Hysong
Al was; Ireme,nber some of the case before that
board.
Q.-The finding Of the board was in favor of DR..
Harrison-on what grounds was that finding baseda
Objected to by Representative Niblack.
Henry N. spaan-Are you attempting to impeach a
court recordl
Mr.. Grihiths-We are not attempting to impeach it,
We simply desire to show how the finding came to be
Chairman Grose-A great many records do not show
any evidence If there is apparent ground known
to the parties, you may ask If it in the evidence
what 1t was
Q-During the progress of that investigation was
notthe question raised to jurisdiction to try the
matter it having been brought before the commission
at special term, instead of regular term. and il
that had had not weight with the commissioners ir
making up the finding in favor of Harrisonl
A.-That had something to do in making up thu
finding.
During the examination of the witness. Rep
9esentative Niblack objected to a number Of
questions, and, becoming very much excited, ad
dressing Chairman Grose, characterized the in
oury as "a court-martial" and military affair
on those, too; they are pretty good tribunals"
The Witness-Mr Wesner was by when the fndn,
was made. knew the question was raised at the be
ginning jurisdiction and then every question tina
was raised was objected to on the trial. The com
far they could produce evidence, and while de
liberating on the evidence and objections made an
the question as to whether the board were right o
not the finding made. While there was some ey
idence that had tendency to prove he had acted i'm
morally, taking the case as found the board did no
thtv,1t
Mr.. Spaan-when did you hear his character 70
truth and veracity discussed
The Witness--f have heard it frequently discusses
In political and financial matters, in both politics
parties.
Mr. spaan-He is an arrogant man somewhat of
The witness-That is what they call him.
Richard F. Jacks was the next witness n
testified that heis q brick-layer. and has resi- de
at Lebanon since he last moved there four year
ago. He was employed at the Insane Hospits
as brick-layer; he went there the LIST
March, 1856, and was there until the last of Al
gust following. He had seen dead hogs at tn
hospital but could not tell how many times
perhaps half dozen times or more. He ws
under the impression they died of cholera Tt
greatest number he ever saw dead iE the pen
one time was thirteen He was undor the in
preston they died Of cholera. He did not 81
any slaughtering going on at that time, the Ola
being Sunday. AT another time he saw the
Killing nOES WH0u Luero were Two OF tuIoo uet
hogs in the pen. He ate very little pork viii
out there.
Mr.. Spaan-You look like man not very fond
pork
Witness-Tm not very fond of it now.
The witness was then put on for the respon
emit and questioned by Mr.. Span
Q-Are you acquainted with Thomas H Harriso
Al have known him since 1861.
Q-Are you acquainted with his reputation
truth and verecty at Lebanonl
A-Yes. sir.
C.-Is it good or bad.
A.--(iood.
Q.-What is his reputation for morality
Al don't know hardly how to answer that GU
ton.
Q.-Confne yourself to the present time. Is it &C
nowf
al have not heard his character for moral
called in question for the last three four years.
s~r II nh In ix